Serious Time For Quickie Crime

JAMES CITY — The crime itself wasn't unusual: an attempted robbery at a Richmond Road gas station.

Prosecutors say the circumstances weren't either: the robber told the clerk he had a gun and demanded money.

But when Brandan Fowler, 20, arrived in court Tuesday for his sentencing on charges of attempted robbery, use of a firearm in committing a robbery, and wearing a mask in public, he got an unusual sentence.

Although the high end of sentencing guidelines called for a maximum of four years and eight months in prison, Circuit Judge Samuel Powell doubled that and gave Fowler 10 years to serve.

"We're attempting to send a message to the community that people who commit robberies and use a weapon are going to receive significant time," Powell said.

Fowler received the mandatory three years on the firearm charge, 10 years on the attempted robbery, with five years suspended, and five years on the mask charge, with three years suspended. He had been convicted of the three charges in June.

His case is one of several making its way through the courts in Williamsburg and James City County, where quickie robberies of convenience stores and fast food restaurants are becoming common crimes. When arrests are made in these cases, many of the offenders are in their teens or early 20s.

"We've got a number of these cases pending," Powell said.

Several young men have already pleaded guilty in the robbery of a James City County McDonald's in January. They are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

In May, a man robbed a clerk at the East Coast gas station on Richmond Road at knifepoint. And just a few weeks ago, armed robbers struck Subway and Quizno's sandwich shops in Williamsburg. Police are still looking for suspects in those incidents.

In total, James City County has seen 11 similar robberies so far in 2007. Williamsburg has had 10 through the end of July.

Powell said young people in the community need to be aware that using a weapon is a big deal, and that their decisions can have serious consequences.

"We want you to think about this," he said. "You're going to be leaving the community for an extended period of time." *